AUSTIN – Sen. Wendy Davis is calling on Gov. Rick Perry to declare a state of emergency to address the "human crisis" on the border and to summon state lawmakers back to Austin for a special session on the issue.

Davis, the Democratic nominee for governor against GOP Attorney General Greg Abbott also said she backed the move by Perry and other leaders to increase support to the Texas Department of Public Safety for border operations.

The Fort Worth senator cited the surrender of families from across Central America to federal border patrol agents.

"The situation is untenable," she said in a letter to Perry. "Federal border agents and facilities are overwhelmed trying to address this human crisis instead of focusing on their first priority to secure our border from drug smugglers, human traffickers and terrorists."

Davis said declaring a state of emergency "will provide communities with the essential resources, supplies, emergency services and facilities they need without further delay. Just as we help communities in the aftermath of wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes and other disasters, we can and should help our border communities during this crisis."

She said a special session is needed to hear from city and county officials and others on the challenges they face and to approve emergency spending to help local agencies.

Davis said the bills for state and local action should be sent to the federal government. She also said Perry should request additional immigration judges immediately.

"I agree that this is a federal issue," she wrote. "While I believe it is imperative for the state to act in the short-term, we need the federal government to do its job – including sending more immigration judges to the border."

Perry and Abbott are scheduled to tour border federal facilities for housing immigrants detained by Border Patrol agents on Monday.

Perry's office slammed Davis' urging.

"On the critical issue of border security Senator Davis has been conspicuous by her absence and the governor is glad she has decided to break her silence following his order to expend an additional $1.3 million per week to disrupt criminal activity along the border," said Perry spokesman Travis Considine. "If Senator Davis truly agrees with Governor Perry that it is the federal government's responsibility to secure the border, she should forward a copy of her letter to her friend and political ally in Washington, President Obama."